About Aileen

My name is Aileen Donovan.  I am a visual artist mostly inspired by my surroundings and environment. I paint whatever I feel like myself. I work mostly with a glue gun to build up a painting to give it a 3d affect.  I painted years ago as a child and took it back up after a 30 year absence in a round about way through furniture upcycling.  4 years ago I started going to Caroline Keane’s Art Classes in the Dunamaise Arts Centre and immediately knew this was what I really wanted to do.  Because I have a crafts background I experiment with glue, modelling pastes, stencils etc. if it suits the painting.  I rarely use paint brushes unless I really have to such as painting a portrait. Otherwise, I mostly use ripped up sponges and my fingers!

I am a member of the Arthouse Collective which is a group of Laois-based artists who meet to discuss possible collaborations and opportunities for artists in Laois.

I exhibited my paintings in Caffé Latte, Portlaoise in June 2019.

In August 2020, I exhibited a painting “All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go” in the online exhibition “Narrating the New Normal” as part of Birr Vintage and Arts Week, Co. Offaly.

For Culture Night 2020, I exhibited “Golden Slumbers” with Laois Arthouse Collective in the Arthouse, Stradbally, Co. Laois.

In January 2021, I exhibited a painting  “William’s Last Words” in the online exhibition “The Year of Magical Thinking” at Dunamaise Arts Centre.

Irish band, Picture This, used one of my paintings “A Good Heart” in their Spotify video for their song “Unconditional” in 2020.

I exhibited my paintings in Abbeyleix Library, Abbeyleix, Co. Laois for the full month of June 2021.

I am currently running a Pop Up Art Gallery Shop in the Gallic Kitchen, Abbeyleix.